The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, August 2, 2024: The Supreme Court has decided against ordering a retest for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2024, despite petitions seeking its cancellation due to paper leak allegations. The detailed judgment, expected today, will explain the reasons for this decision.
Last month, an interim verdict was delivered by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. They addressed petitions calling for a re-test to maintain the exam’s integrity. NEET-UG 2024, conducted on May 5, saw over 23 lakh students vying for medical courses like MBBS and BDS, but faced backlash over reported large-scale malpractices.
The court heard arguments from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the Centre and NTA, and senior advocates Narender Hooda, Sanjay Hegde, and Mathews Nedumpara for the petitioners. Chief Justice Chandrachud noted in the interim order that the data from the NTA did not support claims of systemic leaks or widespread fraud sufficient to invalidate the results. While acknowledging leaks in Hazaribagh and Patna, the court emphasized a nuanced approach to distinguish between affected and unaffected students.
Ordering a re-test, the court stated, would disrupt the admission process, impact medical education, and disadvantage marginalized groups. The malpractices, though present, were not pervasive enough to justify canceling the entire exam, according to “settled principles propounded by this court on the basis of material on record.”
The court also ruled on a disputed physics question, accepting an expert report from IIT Delhi confirming a single correct answer. Additionally, the CBI has filed its first charge sheet in the paper leak case, naming 13 individuals and utilizing advanced forensic techniques to gather evidence.
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